05

Hypothesis; if I be swayed by the pouts of men, I'm as good as gone.

All it took was for my gaze to meet that of Daniel Brighton and the words were free again.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, asshole?" I seethed

Daniel snorted and stepped back. "You'd think the orange juice in your wind pipe would make you less grumpy."

I wiped my nose with the back of my hand, a small cough leaving my lips. My throat still burned, but my rage burned hotter. "I think it's justified, considering you almost killed me!"

He rolled his eyes and said, "you're being dramatic, Freshman." He pulled out a napkin from his back pocket and handed it to me. "Here."

In the few seconds that followed, my gaze flickered between that spot between his eyes and the napkin he was offering. Then at a slow pace, I put out a hand and took it from him, still eyeing his figure that loomed above me. Passerbys cast us weird looks, probably because I, a five foot two petite girl, was being hovered over by a six foot something guy who cast a shadow over me.

I wiped orange juice out of my face, silently contemplating whether to thank him or curse him for this. Now I'd have to walk home with a big shapeless orange stain on Cherry's white tee which she made me borrow for my first day. I mentally cursed her for picking a white tee over the faded black one I'd wanted.

My thoughts were interrupted when Daniel cleared his throat. I snapped my glare back to him.

The dark prince of hell actually had the nerve to pout at me. "Let me give you a lift home."

He literally, put his lips together and pouted like a baby. If I wasn't the strong ass girl that I was, I'd consider the action as cute.

Too bad for him, I was tough as they came.

Tilting my head to the side, I lifted a brow. "Does that usually work for you?"

His brows furrowed in confusion and his gaze narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

I lifted my chin at him and made a circular motion with the hand that had previously been holding my orange juice. My sweet orange juice. "This whole act. Almost drowning me in orange juice and suddenly wanting me to get in a car with you. I mean, what do you think this is?"

Daniel blinked in disbelief, his jaw hitting the paved cement floor of the sidewalk we were on. Probably couldn't stomach the fact that one girl wasn't swayed by his antics.

Recovering from the shock, he shook his head and chuckled, casting his gaze around and bending slightly so he was at eyes level with me. While he glared at me with an intensity, I glared back with five times as much heat. Two could play at this game.

"You think I have to put on a play each time I want a fling?" he asked, inserting another chuckle to mock me. I scowled and his expression turned dead serious. "All I have to do is smile at girls and they'd drop their panties to run to me."

I snorted. "Then I hate to disappoint you, Daniel. But I don't want a ride."

He smirked, making me regret my choice of words immediately. Wearing a deadpan expression, I completed my statement to rid him of any extravagant thoughts. "Home. I don't want a ride home. In fact, I'd rather walk."

With that, I shoved the napkin at him, barely missing his touch by millimeters, and began walking away.

Over my shoulder, I heard him call, "this is the third time you're walking away from me."

I spun around so I was now facing him while walking backwards. A smile lit up my face. "Maybe it's because you're repulsive."

When the signature stunned expression took over his face, my smile turned genuinely satisfied. I spun back and continued walking.

I was not happy about Cherry and Carol's presence in the room when I walked in. Cherry's attention was buried nose-deep in whatever she was furiously typing and Carol was seemingly focused on the video of a twirling animated cow on her laptop.

Gently as I could, I pushed the door open and tiptoed in, wanting to just drop off my backpack and take a walk around campus. I still hadn't picked up my car anyway. Though, I had gone there yesterday morning and the guy working on it said it'd take a miracle to revive the old thing but he'd try his best. Ironically, from the look on his face, I could tell he'd given up on my car long ago.

As I began dropping my bag to the floor slowly, my thoughts drifted to earlier when Daniel offered to drop me off. To his stupid smirk and that pout-

The bag slipped from my fingers and landed with a crash onto the tiled floor, causing the attention of Carol and Cherry to snap to me. I blinked at them, grinning sheepishly, and offered a wave.

Cherry straightened her spine and grinned back, waving. "Noah. We didn't see you there."

On the other side of my bed, Carol snorted. "Speak for yourself, I felt her walk in slowly." Her gaze lowered to the stain on my shirt and she lifted a brow. "You spilled on yourself?"

Cherry too was now looking at the stain, probably waiting for an answer. So I replied with, "yeah. Something like that."

Cherry waved it off with a smile. "Happens to me all the time. You can just keep the shirt."

I muttered a small "thanks" and took off my shoes, placing them in their rightful position before dropping my phone on my bedside table and heading into the bathroom.

As the cold water hit my skin, thoughts invaded my mind. And most of them had Daniel's face in them.

I snapped my eyes open and ran a hand over my face. What the fuck?

That was all it took for me to hurry the hell out of the shower, all the while thinking about what the reason could possibly be why Daniel's face was in my head. Coming to the sane conclusion that it was because I wanted to seduce him but my actions were doing the exact opposite, I stepped out of the bathroom and headed for the wardrobe.

"Um, Noah?"

I hummed in response to Cherry's voice, collecting a pair of blue loose shorts and an oversized tee and pulling on the clothes.

"Your phone's been going off with texts for the past seven minutes," she called, her voice muffled by the closed doors of the wardrobe I was currently in.

I drew my brows together in confusion, wondering who would blow up my phone with text messages. It was probably Chanelle, but I'd already given her an update about today so she wouldn't be too worked up.

I stepped out of the wardrobe, hurrying over to my phone while drying out the tips of my braids that were wet. The phone vibrated again the second I picked it up. A single text from mom lit up the screen.

Mom:

Noah, I'm out of money.

Scoffing, I unlocked my phone and proceeded to check the other messages. There was one from Chanelle asking if anything else happened with Daniel and twelve from an unknown number.

After throwing my towel onto the bed, I typed a negative response to Chanelle about Daniel. She didn't need to know about our embarrassing run in with each other.

Seating on my bed in a crisscrossed position, I opened the other text and got doused in horror when I read all the texts.

Unknown:

Thought you could get rid of me?

Well guess what?

Your very own sexy badboy has arrived.

Get ready for an exciting adventure.

How does it feel to be stalked, stalker?

Incase you haven't realized, this is Daniel.

Hiiiiiiiiii

Btw, your social life needs an urgent rehabilitation.

Really? One picture on Facebook from over three years ago.

Lord. All those books you've been reading have really taken a toll on you, haven't they.

Don't worry, I'll save you, freshman.

In a heroic tone of course;)

All the powers in the world couldn't stop me from guffawing so hard, my eyes almost popped right out. Carol and Cherry turned to me with raised eyebrows and I just shook my head at them, biting down on my lip as I typed a reply. This dude just couldn't take no for an answer. As long as it served me though, who was I to complaining.

Send to: Assface

Now this is the definition of stalking. You make me look like a student at your feet.

I pressed send, chuckling at the name I'd stored his contact as. Barely ten seconds later, his reply came in.

From: Assface

Did the great Noah Bennett just admit that I'm better than her at something?

I licked my lips and used a single braid to out the others into a ponytail on my head before replying.

To: Assface

I see you did your homework well.

From: Assface

Noah Bennett. Mom's Nigerian, Dad's South African. Loves to paint and wants to make money from her artworks someday. Loves Chocolate latte.

Ew.

Instinctively, I froze after receiving that text. Just how much of a stalker was this guy for him to dig up that much about me from a single picture on Facebook that I took years ago?

On reading the rest of the message, my body automatically unfroze and a look of disgust came upon me.

Send to: Assface

Did you just say "ew" to chocolate lattes?

From: Assface

They suck. Please tell me your Facebook bio lied hard.

A string of giggles left my lips but before more could escape, I clamped a hand down on my mouth. Eyes wide, I stared at Carol and Cherry who looked at me with genuine concern.

"Are you okay?" Cherry asked.

I nodded. "It's a silly group chat."

They both studied me for another passing moment before simultaneously shrugging like they'd rehearsed it and going back to their devices.

To: Assface

I mean, it's one thing to have a face like yours, it's another to not have taste in caffeine. Next thing we know, you're an alien from Jupiter.

From: Assface

Haha(It's not funny). I'm sure one cup of coffee with me will change your mind:)

I considered it for a moment. Accepting this coffee date was going to be my first official step in seducing Daniel. My first step towards twenty five grand.

My mind drifted back to the text from my mom and I frowned. Normal parents would ask how school was going for their kids. My mom was asking for money. Gosh. What I'd give to be rid of the trouble she always brought.

I shook my head vigorously, concentrating on the task at hand. My hand hovered over each key before I clicked it, typing my witty response.

To: Assface

Since you're so persistent, one coffee with you. But I can assure you that you won't be doing any convincing.

I found myself biting my lip as I awaited his response. When he did, a smile crept onto my face and sat there proudly.

From: Assface

Trust me, it'll be like you never knew that dreaded mix of cocoa powder and sorrow.

Does nine work tomorrow? I have practice at ten thirty.